GdaConnection

## GdaConnection GdaConnection — Management of connections to data sources |

## Synopsis

                        GdaConnection;
    enum                GdaConnectionOptions;
    enum                GdaConnectionError;
    #define             GDA_CONNECTION_ERROR
    GdaConnection *     gda_connection_open_from_dsn        (const gchar *dsn,
                                                             const gchar *auth_string,
                                                             GdaConnectionOptions options,
                                                             GError **error);
    GdaConnection *     gda_connection_open_from_string     (const gchar *provider_name,
                                                             const gchar *cnc_string,
                                                             const gchar *auth_string,
                                                             GdaConnectionOptions options,
                                                             GError **error);
    gboolean            gda_connection_open                 (GdaConnection *cnc,
                                                             GError **error);
    void                gda_connection_close                (GdaConnection *cnc);
    void                gda_connection_close_no_warning     (GdaConnection *cnc);
    gboolean            gda_connection_is_opened            (GdaConnection *cnc);

    GdaSqlParser *      gda_connection_create_parser        (GdaConnection *cnc);
    gchar *             gda_connection_value_to_sql_string  (GdaConnection *cnc,
                                                             GValue *from);
    gchar *             gda_connection_quote_sql_identifier (GdaConnection *cnc,
                                                             const gchar *id);
    gchar *             gda_connection_statement_to_sql     (GdaConnection *cnc,
                                                             GdaStatement *stmt,
                                                             GdaSet *params,
                                                             GdaStatementSqlFlag flags,
                                                             GSList **params_used,
                                                             GError **error);
    gboolean            gda_connection_statement_prepare    (GdaConnection *cnc,
                                                             GdaStatement *stmt,
                                                             GError **error);
    GObject *           gda_connection_statement_execute    (GdaConnection *cnc,
                                                             GdaStatement *stmt,
                                                             GdaSet *params,
                                                             GdaStatementModelUsage model_usage,
                                                             GdaSet **last_insert_row,
                                                             GError **error);
    GdaDataModel *      gda_connection_statement_execute_select
                                                            (GdaConnection *cnc,
                                                             GdaStatement *stmt,
                                                             GdaSet *params,
                                                             GError **error);
    GdaDataModel *      gda_connection_statement_execute_select_full
                                                            (GdaConnection *cnc,
                                                             GdaStatement *stmt,
                                                             GdaSet *params,
                                                             GdaStatementModelUsage model_usage,
                                                             GType *col_types,
                                                             GError **error);
    GdaDataModel *      gda_connection_statement_execute_select_fullv
                                                            (GdaConnection *cnc,
                                                             GdaStatement *stmt,
                                                             GdaSet *params,
                                                             GdaStatementModelUsage model_usage,
                                                             GError **error,
                                                             ...);
    gint                gda_connection_statement_execute_non_select
                                                            (GdaConnection *cnc,
                                                             GdaStatement *stmt,
                                                             GdaSet *params,
                                                             GdaSet **last_insert_row,
                                                             GError **error);
    GSList *            gda_connection_batch_execute        (GdaConnection *cnc,
                                                             GdaBatch *batch,
                                                             GdaSet *params,
                                                             GdaStatementModelUsage model_usage,
                                                             GError **error);
    gboolean            gda_connection_begin_transaction    (GdaConnection *cnc,
                                                             const gchar *name,
                                                             GdaTransactionIsolation level,
                                                             GError **error);
    gboolean            gda_connection_commit_transaction   (GdaConnection *cnc,
                                                             const gchar *name,
                                                             GError **error);
    gboolean            gda_connection_rollback_transaction (GdaConnection *cnc,
                                                             const gchar *name,
                                                             GError **error);
    gboolean            gda_connection_add_savepoint        (GdaConnection *cnc,
                                                             const gchar *name,
                                                             GError **error);
    gboolean            gda_connection_rollback_savepoint   (GdaConnection *cnc,
                                                             const gchar *name,
                                                             GError **error);
    gboolean            gda_connection_delete_savepoint     (GdaConnection *cnc,
                                                             const gchar *name,
                                                             GError **error);

    GdaTransactionStatus * gda_connection_get_transaction_status
                                                            (GdaConnection *cnc);
    GdaConnectionOptions  gda_connection_get_options        (GdaConnection *cnc);
    GdaServerProvider * gda_connection_get_provider         (GdaConnection *cnc);
    const gchar *       gda_connection_get_provider_name    (GdaConnection *cnc);
    const gchar *       gda_connection_get_dsn              (GdaConnection *cnc);
    const gchar *       gda_connection_get_cnc_string       (GdaConnection *cnc);
    const gchar *       gda_connection_get_authentication   (GdaConnection *cnc);

    const GList *       gda_connection_get_events           (GdaConnection *cnc);

    GdaServerOperation * gda_connection_create_operation    (GdaConnection *cnc,
                                                             GdaServerOperationType type,
                                                             GdaSet *options,
                                                             GError **error);
    gboolean            gda_connection_perform_operation    (GdaConnection *cnc,
                                                             GdaServerOperation *op,
                                                             GError **error);

    enum                GdaConnectionFeature;
    gboolean            gda_connection_supports_feature     (GdaConnection *cnc,
                                                             GdaConnectionFeature feature);
    GdaMetaStore *      gda_connection_get_meta_store       (GdaConnection *cnc);
    gboolean            gda_connection_update_meta_store    (GdaConnection *cnc,
                                                             GdaMetaContext *context,
                                                             GError **error);
    enum                GdaConnectionMetaType;
    GdaDataModel *      gda_connection_get_meta_store_data  (GdaConnection *cnc,
                                                             GdaConnectionMetaType meta_type,
                                                             GError **error,
                                                             gint nb_filters,
                                                             ...);
    GdaDataModel *      gda_connection_get_meta_store_data_v
                                                            (GdaConnection *cnc,
                                                             GdaConnectionMetaType meta_type,
                                                             GList *filters,
                                                             GError **error);

## Object Hierarchy

      GObject
       +----GdaConnection
             +----GdaVirtualConnection

## Implemented Interfaces

GdaConnection implements GdaLockable.

## Properties

      "auth-string"              gchar*                : Read / Write
      "cnc-string"               gchar*                : Read / Write
      "dsn"                      gchar*                : Read / Write
      "meta-store"               GdaMetaStore*         : Read / Write
      "options"                  GdaConnectionOptions  : Read / Write
      "provider"                 GdaServerProvider*    : Read / Write
      "thread-owner"             gpointer              : Read / Write

## Signals

      "conn-closed"                                    : Run Last
      "conn-opened"                                    : Run First
      "conn-to-close"                                  : Run First
      "dsn-changed"                                    : Run Last
      "error"                                          : Run Last
      "transaction-status-changed"                     : Run Last

## Description

Each connection to a database is represented by a GdaConnection object. A connection is created (and opened) using `gda_connection_open_from_dsn()` if a data source has been defined, or `gda_connection_open_from_string()` otherwise. It is not recommended to create a GdaConnection object using `g_object_new()` as the results are unpredictable (some parts won't correctly be initialized).

Use the connection object to execute statements, use transactions, get meta data information, ...

The GdaConnection object implements its own locking mechanism so it is thread-safe.

## Details

### GdaConnection

    typedef struct _GdaConnection GdaConnection;

### enum GdaConnectionOptions

    typedef enum {
            GDA_CONNECTION_OPTIONS_NONE = 0,
    	GDA_CONNECTION_OPTIONS_READ_ONLY = 1 << 0,
    	GDA_CONNECTION_OPTIONS_SQL_IDENTIFIERS_CASE_SENSITIVE = 1 << 1
    } GdaConnectionOptions;

Specifies some aspects of a connection when opening it.

Additionnal information about the GDA_CONNECTION_OPTIONS_SQL_IDENTIFIERS_CASE_SENSITIVE flag:

- For example without this flag, if the table name specified in a GdaServerOperation to create a table is MyTable, then usually the database will create a table named mytable, whereas with this flag, the table will be created as MyTable (note that in the end the database may still decide to name the table mytable or differently if it can't do otherwise).

- Libgda will not apply this rule when parsing SQL code, the SQL code being parsed has to be conform to the database it will be used with

`GDA_CONNECTION_OPTIONS_NONE` | no specific aspect
`GDA_CONNECTION_OPTIONS_READ_ONLY` | this flag specifies that the connection to open should be in a read-only mode (this policy is not correctly enforced at the moment)
`GDA_CONNECTION_OPTIONS_SQL_IDENTIFIERS_CASE_SENSITIVE` | this flag specifies that SQL identifiers submitted as input to Libgda have to keep their case sensitivity.

### enum GdaConnectionError

    typedef enum {
    	GDA_CONNECTION_DSN_NOT_FOUND_ERROR,
    	GDA_CONNECTION_PROVIDER_NOT_FOUND_ERROR,
    	GDA_CONNECTION_PROVIDER_ERROR,
    	GDA_CONNECTION_NO_CNC_SPEC_ERROR,
    	GDA_CONNECTION_NO_PROVIDER_SPEC_ERROR,
    	GDA_CONNECTION_OPEN_ERROR,
    	GDA_CONNECTION_STATEMENT_TYPE_ERROR
    } GdaConnectionError;

### GDA_CONNECTION_ERROR

    #define GDA_CONNECTION_ERROR gda_connection_error_quark ()

### gda_connection_open_from_dsn ()

    GdaConnection *     gda_connection_open_from_dsn        (const gchar *dsn,
                                                             const gchar *auth_string,
                                                             GdaConnectionOptions options,
                                                             GError **error);

This function is the way of opening database connections with libgda, using a pre-defined data source (DSN), see `gda_config_define_dsn()` for more information about how to define a DSN. If you don't want to define a DSN, it is possible to use `gda_connection_open_from_string()` instead of this method.

The `dsn` string must have the following format: "[<username>[:<password>]@]<DSN>" (if <username> and/or <password> are provided, and `auth_string` is `NULL`, then these username and passwords will be used). Note that if provided, <username> and <password> must be encoded as per RFC 1738, see `gda_rfc1738_encode()` for more information.

The `auth_string` can contain the authentication information for the server to accept the connection. It is a string containing semi-colon seperated named value, usually like "USERNAME=...;PASSWORD=..." where the ... are replaced by actual values. Note that each name and value must be encoded as per RFC 1738, see `gda_rfc1738_encode()` for more information.

The actual named parameters required depend on the provider being used, and that list is available as the `auth_params` member of the GdaProviderInfo structure for each installed provider (use `gda_config_get_provider_info()` to get it). Also one can use the "gda-sql-4.0 -L" command to list the possible named parameters.

`dsn` : | data source name.
`auth_string` : | authentication string, or `NULL`
`options` : | options for the connection (see GdaConnectionOptions).
`error` : | a place to store an error, or `NULL`
Returns : | a new GdaConnection if connection opening was sucessfull or `NULL` if there was an error.

### gda_connection_open_from_string ()

    GdaConnection *     gda_connection_open_from_string     (const gchar *provider_name,
                                                             const gchar *cnc_string,
                                                             const gchar *auth_string,
                                                             GdaConnectionOptions options,
                                                             GError **error);

Opens a connection given a provider ID and a connection string. This allows applications to open connections without having to create a data source (DSN) in the configuration. The format of `cnc_string` is similar to PostgreSQL and MySQL connection strings. It is a semicolumn-separated series of <key>=<value> pairs, where each key and value are encoded as per RFC 1738, see `gda_rfc1738_encode()` for more information.

The possible keys depend on the provider, the "gda-sql-4.0 -L" command can be used to list the actual keys for each installed database provider.

For example the connection string to open an SQLite connection to a database file named "my_data.db" in the current directory would be `"DB_DIR=.;DB_NAME=my_data"`.

The `cnc_string` string must have the following format: "[<provider>://][<username>[:<password>]@]<connection_params>" (if <username> and/or <password> are provided, and `auth_string` is `NULL`, then these username and passwords will be used, and if <provider> is provided and `provider_name` is `NULL` then this provider will be used). Note that if provided, <username>, <password> and <provider> must be encoded as per RFC 1738, see `gda_rfc1738_encode()` for more information.

The `auth_string` must contain the authentication information for the server to accept the connection. It is a string containing semi-colon seperated named values, usually like "USERNAME=...;PASSWORD=..." where the ... are replaced by actual values. Note that each name and value must be encoded as per RFC 1738, see `gda_rfc1738_encode()` for more information.

The actual named parameters required depend on the provider being used, and that list is available as the `auth_params` member of the GdaProviderInfo structure for each installed provider (use `gda_config_get_provider_info()` to get it). Similarly to the format of the connection string, use the "gda-sql-4.0 -L" command to list the possible named parameters.

Additionally, it is possible to have the connection string respect the "<provider_name>://<real cnc string>" format, in which case the provider name and the real connection string will be extracted from that string (note that if `provider_name` is not `NULL` then it will still be used as the provider ID).

`provider_name` : | provider ID to connect to, or `NULL`
`cnc_string` : | connection string.
`auth_string` : | authentication string, or `NULL`
`options` : | options for the connection (see GdaConnectionOptions).
`error` : | a place to store an error, or `NULL`
Returns : | a new GdaConnection if connection opening was sucessfull or `NULL` if there was an error.

### gda_connection_open ()

    gboolean            gda_connection_open                 (GdaConnection *cnc,
                                                             GError **error);

Tries to open the connection.

`cnc` : | a GdaConnection object
`error` : | a place to store errors, or `NULL`
Returns : | TRUE if the connection is opened, and FALSE otherwise.

### gda_connection_close ()

    void                gda_connection_close                (GdaConnection *cnc);

Closes the connection to the underlying data source, but first emits the "conn-to-close" signal.

`cnc` : | a GdaConnection object.

### gda_connection_close_no_warning ()

    void                gda_connection_close_no_warning     (GdaConnection *cnc);

Closes the connection to the underlying data source, without emiting any warning signal.

`cnc` : | a GdaConnection object.

### gda_connection_is_opened ()

    gboolean            gda_connection_is_opened            (GdaConnection *cnc);

Checks whether a connection is open or not.

`cnc` : | a GdaConnection object.
Returns : | `TRUE` if the connection is open, `FALSE` if it's not.

### gda_connection_create_parser ()

    GdaSqlParser *      gda_connection_create_parser        (GdaConnection *cnc);

Creates a new parser object able to parse the SQL dialect understood by `cnc`. If the GdaServerProvider object internally used by `cnc` does not have its own parser, then `NULL` is returned, and a general SQL parser can be obtained using `gda_sql_parser_new()`.

`cnc` : | a GdaConnection object
Returns : | a new GdaSqlParser object, or `NULL`

### gda_connection_value_to_sql_string ()

    gchar *             gda_connection_value_to_sql_string  (GdaConnection *cnc,
                                                             GValue *from);

Produces a fully quoted and escaped string from a GValue

`cnc` : | a GdaConnection object.
`from` : | GValue to convert from
Returns : | escaped and quoted value or NULL if not supported.

### gda_connection_quote_sql_identifier ()

    gchar *             gda_connection_quote_sql_identifier (GdaConnection *cnc,
                                                             const gchar *id);

Use this method to get a correctly quoted (if necessary) SQL identifier which can be used in SQL statements, from `id`. If `id` is already correctly quoted for `cnc`, then a copy of `id` may be returned.

This method may add double quotes (or other characters) around `id`:

- if `id` is a reserved SQL keyword (such as SELECT, INSERT, ...)

- if `id` contains non allowed characters such as spaces, or if it starts with a digit

- in any other event as necessary for `cnc`, depending on the the options passed when opening the `cnc` connection, and specifically the GDA_CONNECTION_OPTIONS_SQL_IDENTIFIERS_CASE_SENSITIVE option.

One can safely pass an already quoted `id` to this method, either with quoting characters allowed by `cnc` or using the double quote (") character.

`cnc` : | a GdaConnection object
`id` : | an SQL identifier
Returns : | a new string, to free with `g_free()` once not needed anymore

Since 4.0.3

### gda_connection_statement_to_sql ()

    gchar *             gda_connection_statement_to_sql     (GdaConnection *cnc,
                                                             GdaStatement *stmt,
                                                             GdaSet *params,
                                                             GdaStatementSqlFlag flags,
                                                             GSList **params_used,
                                                             GError **error);

Renders `stmt` as an SQL statement, adapted to the SQL dialect used by `cnc`

`cnc` : | a GdaConnection object
`stmt` : | a GdaStatement object
`params` : | a GdaSet object (which can be obtained using `gda_statement_get_parameters()`), or `NULL`
`flags` : | SQL rendering flags, as GdaStatementSqlFlag OR'ed values
`params_used` : | a place to store the list of individual GdaHolder objects within `params` which have been used
`error` : | a place to store errors, or `NULL`
Returns : | a new string, or `NULL` if an error occurred

### gda_connection_statement_prepare ()

    gboolean            gda_connection_statement_prepare    (GdaConnection *cnc,
                                                             GdaStatement *stmt,
                                                             GError **error);

Ask the database accessed through the `cnc` connection to prepare the usage of `stmt`. This is only usefull if `stmt` will be used more than once (however some database providers may always prepare stamements before executing them).

This function is also usefull to make sure `stmt` is fully understood by the database before actually executing it.

Note however that it is also possible that `gda_connection_statement_prepare()` fails when `gda_connection_statement_execute()` does not fail (this will usually be the case with statements such as "SELECT * FROM ##tablename::string" because database usually don't allow variables to be used in place of a table name).

`cnc` : | a GdaConnection
`stmt` : | a GdaStatement object
`error` : | a place to store errors, or `NULL`
Returns : | TRUE if no error occurred.

### gda_connection_statement_execute ()

    GObject *           gda_connection_statement_execute    (GdaConnection *cnc,
                                                             GdaStatement *stmt,
                                                             GdaSet *params,
                                                             GdaStatementModelUsage model_usage,
                                                             GdaSet **last_insert_row,
                                                             GError **error);

Executes `stmt`.

As `stmt` can, by desing (and if not abused), contain only one SQL statement, the return object will either be:

- a GdaDataSelect object (which is also a GdaDataModel) if `stmt` is a SELECT statement (usually a GDA_SQL_STATEMENT_SELECT, see GdaSqlStatementType) containing the results of the SELECT. The resulting data model is by default read only, but modifications can be enabled, see the GdaDataSelect's documentation for more information.

- a GdaSet for any other SQL statement which correctly executed. In this case (if the provider supports it), then the GdaSet may contain value holders named:

  - a (gint) GdaHolder named "IMPACTED_ROWS"

  - a (GObject) GdaHolder named "EVENT" which contains a GdaConnectionEvent

If `last_insert_row` is not `NULL` and `stmt` is an INSERT statement, then it will contain (if the provider used by `cnc` supports it) a new GdaSet object composed of value holders named "+<column number>" starting at column 0 which contain the actual inserted values. For example if a table is composed of an 'id' column which is auto incremented and a 'name' column then the execution of a "INSERT INTO mytable (name) VALUES ('joe')" query will return a GdaSet with two holders:

- one with the '+0' ID which may for example contain 1 (note that its "name" property should be "id")

- one with the '+1' ID which will contain 'joe' (note that its "name" property should be "name")

This method may fail with a `GDA_SERVER_PROVIDER_ERROR` domain error (see the GdaServerProviderError error codes).

Note1: If `stmt` is a SELECT statement which has some parameters and if `params` is `NULL`, then the statement can't be executed and this method will return `NULL`.

Note2: If `stmt` is a SELECT statement which has some parameters and if `params` is not `NULL` but contains some invalid parameters, then the statement can't be executed and this method will return `NULL`, unless the `model_usage` has the GDA_STATEMENT_MODEL_ALLOW_NOPARAM flag.

Note3: If `stmt` is a SELECT statement which has some parameters and if `params` is not `NULL` but contains some invalid parameters and if `model_usage` has the GDA_STATEMENT_MODEL_ALLOW_NOPARAM flag, then the returned data model will contain no row but will have all the correct columns (even though some of the columns might report as GDA_TYPE_NULL). In this case, if (after this method call) any of `params`' parameters change then the resulting data model will re-run itself, see the GdaDataSelect's auto-reset property for more information.

Note4: if `model_usage` does not contain the GDA_STATEMENT_MODEL_RANDOM_ACCESS or GDA_STATEMENT_MODEL_CURSOR_FORWARD flags, then the default will be to return a random access data model

Note5: If `stmt` is a SELECT statement which returns blob values (of type `GDA_TYPE_BLOB`), then an implicit transaction will have been started by the database provider, and it's up to the caller to close the transaction (which will then be locked) once all the blob ressources have been liberated (when the returned data model is destroyed). See the section about Binary large objects (BLOBs) for more information.

Also see the provider's limitations, and the Advanced GdaDataSelect usage sections.

`cnc` : | a GdaConnection
`stmt` : | a GdaStatement object
`params` : | a GdaSet object (which can be obtained using `gda_statement_get_parameters()`), or `NULL`
`model_usage` : | in the case where `stmt` is a SELECT statement, specifies how the returned data model will be used
`last_insert_row` : | a place to store a new GdaSet object which contains the values of the last inserted row, or `NULL`
`error` : | a place to store errors, or `NULL`
Returns : | a GObject, or `NULL` if an error occurred

### gda_connection_statement_execute_select ()

    GdaDataModel *      gda_connection_statement_execute_select
                                                            (GdaConnection *cnc,
                                                             GdaStatement *stmt,
                                                             GdaSet *params,
                                                             GError **error);

Executes a selection command on the given connection. The `gda_execute_select_command()` method can be easier to use if one prefers to use some SQL directly.

This function returns a GdaDataModel resulting from the SELECT statement, or `NULL` if an error occurred.

This function is just a convenience function around the `gda_connection_statement_execute()` function.

See the documentation of the `gda_connection_statement_execute()` for information about the `params` list of parameters.

`cnc` : | a GdaConnection object.
`stmt` : | a GdaStatement object.
`params` : | a GdaSet object (which can be obtained using `gda_statement_get_parameters()`), or `NULL`
`error` : | a place to store an error, or `NULL`
Returns : | a GdaDataModel containing the data returned by the data source, or `NULL` if an error occurred

### gda_connection_statement_execute_select_full ()

    GdaDataModel *      gda_connection_statement_execute_select_full
                                                            (GdaConnection *cnc,
                                                             GdaStatement *stmt,
                                                             GdaSet *params,
                                                             GdaStatementModelUsage model_usage,
                                                             GType *col_types,
                                                             GError **error);

Executes a selection command on the given connection.

This function returns a GdaDataModel resulting from the SELECT statement, or `NULL` if an error occurred.

This function is just a convenience function around the `gda_connection_statement_execute()` function.

See the documentation of the `gda_connection_statement_execute()` for information about the `params` list of parameters.

`cnc` : | a GdaConnection object.
`stmt` : | a GdaStatement object.
`params` : | a GdaSet object (which can be obtained using `gda_statement_get_parameters()`), or `NULL`
`model_usage` : | specifies how the returned data model will be used as a GdaStatementModelUsage enum
`col_types` : | an array of GType to request each returned GdaDataModel's column's GType, terminated with the G_TYPE_NONE value. Any value left to 0 will make the database provider determine the real GType. `col_types` can also be `NULL` if no column type is specified.
`error` : | a place to store an error, or `NULL`
Returns : | a GdaDataModel containing the data returned by the data source, or `NULL` if an error occurred

### gda_connection_statement_execute_select_fullv ()

    GdaDataModel *      gda_connection_statement_execute_select_fullv
                                                            (GdaConnection *cnc,
                                                             GdaStatement *stmt,
                                                             GdaSet *params,
                                                             GdaStatementModelUsage model_usage,
                                                             GError **error,
                                                             ...);

Executes a selection command on the given connection.

This function returns a GdaDataModel resulting from the SELECT statement, or `NULL` if an error occurred.

This function is just a convenience function around the `gda_connection_statement_execute()` function.

See the documentation of the `gda_connection_statement_execute()` for information about the `params` list of parameters.

`cnc` : | a GdaConnection object.
`stmt` : | a GdaStatement object.
`params` : | a GdaSet object (which can be obtained using `gda_statement_get_parameters()`), or `NULL`
`model_usage` : | specifies how the returned data model will be used as a GdaStatementModelUsage enum
`error` : | a place to store an error, or `NULL`
`...` : | a (-1 terminated) list of (column number, GType) specifying for each column mentionned the GType of the column in the returned GdaDataModel.
Returns : | a GdaDataModel containing the data returned by the data source, or `NULL` if an error occurred

### gda_connection_statement_execute_non_select ()

    gint                gda_connection_statement_execute_non_select
                                                            (GdaConnection *cnc,
                                                             GdaStatement *stmt,
                                                             GdaSet *params,
                                                             GdaSet **last_insert_row,
                                                             GError **error);

Executes a non-selection statement on the given connection. The `gda_execute_non_select_command()` method can be easier to use if one prefers to use some SQL directly.

This function returns the number of rows affected by the execution of `stmt`, or -1 if an error occurred, or -2 if the connection's provider does not return the number of rows affected.

This function is just a convenience function around the `gda_connection_statement_execute()` function. See the documentation of the `gda_connection_statement_execute()` for information about the `params` list of parameters.

See `gda_connection_statement_execute()` form more information about `last_insert_row`.

`cnc` : | a GdaConnection object.
`stmt` : | a GdaStatement object.
`params` : | a GdaSet object (which can be obtained using `gda_statement_get_parameters()`), or `NULL`
`last_insert_row` : | a place to store a new GdaSet object which contains the values of the last inserted row, or `NULL`
`error` : | a place to store an error, or `NULL`
Returns : | the number of rows affected (>=0) or -1 or -2

### gda_connection_batch_execute ()

    GSList *            gda_connection_batch_execute        (GdaConnection *cnc,
                                                             GdaBatch *batch,
                                                             GdaSet *params,
                                                             GdaStatementModelUsage model_usage,
                                                             GError **error);

Executes all the statements contained in `batch` (in the order in which they were added to `batch`), and returns a list of GObject objects, at most one GObject for each statement; see `gda_connection_statement_execute()` for details about the returned objects.

If one of the statement fails, then none of the subsequent statement will be executed, and the method returns the list of GObject created by the correct execution of the previous statements. If a transaction is required, then it should be started before calling this method.

`cnc` : | a GdaConnection object
`batch` : | a GdaBatch object which contains all the statements to execute
`params` : | a GdaSet object (which can be obtained using `gda_batch_get_parameters()`), or `NULL`
`model_usage` : | specifies how the returned data model(s) will be used, as a GdaStatementModelUsage enum
`error` : | a place to store errors, or `NULL`
Returns : | a list of GObject objects

### gda_connection_begin_transaction ()

    gboolean            gda_connection_begin_transaction    (GdaConnection *cnc,
                                                             const gchar *name,
                                                             GdaTransactionIsolation level,
                                                             GError **error);

Starts a transaction on the data source, identified by the `name` parameter.

Before starting a transaction, you can check whether the underlying provider does support transactions or not by using the `gda_connection_supports_feature()` function.

`cnc` : | a GdaConnection object.
`name` : | the name of the transation to start, or `NULL`
`level` : | the requested transaction level (`GDA_TRANSACTION_ISOLATION_UNKNOWN` if not specified)
`error` : | a place to store errors, or `NULL`
Returns : | `TRUE` if the transaction was started successfully, `FALSE` otherwise.

### gda_connection_commit_transaction ()

    gboolean            gda_connection_commit_transaction   (GdaConnection *cnc,
                                                             const gchar *name,
                                                             GError **error);

Commits the given transaction to the backend database. You need to call `gda_connection_begin_transaction()` first.

`cnc` : | a GdaConnection object.
`name` : | the name of the transation to commit, or `NULL`
`error` : | a place to store errors, or `NULL`
Returns : | `TRUE` if the transaction was finished successfully, `FALSE` otherwise.

### gda_connection_rollback_transaction ()

    gboolean            gda_connection_rollback_transaction (GdaConnection *cnc,
                                                             const gchar *name,
                                                             GError **error);

Rollbacks the given transaction. This means that all changes made to the underlying data source since the last call to #`gda_connection_begin_transaction()` or #`gda_connection_commit_transaction()` will be discarded.

`cnc` : | a GdaConnection object.
`name` : | the name of the transation to commit, or `NULL`
`error` : | a place to store errors, or `NULL`
Returns : | `TRUE` if the operation was successful, `FALSE` otherwise.

### gda_connection_add_savepoint ()

    gboolean            gda_connection_add_savepoint        (GdaConnection *cnc,
                                                             const gchar *name,
                                                             GError **error);

Adds a SAVEPOINT named `name`.

`cnc` : | a GdaConnection object
`name` : | name of the savepoint to add
`error` : | a place to store errors or `NULL`
Returns : | TRUE if no error occurred

### gda_connection_rollback_savepoint ()

    gboolean            gda_connection_rollback_savepoint   (GdaConnection *cnc,
                                                             const gchar *name,
                                                             GError **error);

Rollback all the modifications made after the SAVEPOINT named `name`.

`cnc` : | a GdaConnection object
`name` : | name of the savepoint to rollback to
`error` : | a place to store errors or `NULL`
Returns : | TRUE if no error occurred

### gda_connection_delete_savepoint ()

    gboolean            gda_connection_delete_savepoint     (GdaConnection *cnc,
                                                             const gchar *name,
                                                             GError **error);

Delete the SAVEPOINT named `name` when not used anymore.

`cnc` : | a GdaConnection object
`name` : | name of the savepoint to delete
`error` : | a place to store errors or `NULL`
Returns : | TRUE if no error occurred

### gda_connection_get_transaction_status ()

    GdaTransactionStatus * gda_connection_get_transaction_status
                                                            (GdaConnection *cnc);

Get the status of `cnc` regarding transactions. The returned object should not be modified or destroyed; however it may be modified or destroyed by the connection itself.

If `NULL` is returned, then no transaction has been associated with `cnc`

`cnc` : | a GdaConnection object
Returns : | a GdaTransactionStatus object, or `NULL`

### gda_connection_get_options ()

    GdaConnectionOptions  gda_connection_get_options        (GdaConnection *cnc);

Gets the GdaConnectionOptions used to open this connection.

`cnc` : | a GdaConnection object.
Returns : | the connection options.

### gda_connection_get_provider ()

    GdaServerProvider * gda_connection_get_provider         (GdaConnection *cnc);

Get a pointer to the GdaServerProvider object used to access the database

`cnc` : | a GdaConnection object
Returns : | the GdaServerProvider (NEVER NULL)

### gda_connection_get_provider_name ()

    const gchar *       gda_connection_get_provider_name    (GdaConnection *cnc);

Get the name (identifier) of the database provider used by `cnc`

`cnc` : | a GdaConnection object
Returns : | a non modifiable string

### gda_connection_get_dsn ()

    const gchar *       gda_connection_get_dsn              (GdaConnection *cnc);

`cnc` : | a GdaConnection object
Returns : | the data source name the connection object is connected to.

### gda_connection_get_cnc_string ()

    const gchar *       gda_connection_get_cnc_string       (GdaConnection *cnc);

Gets the connection string used to open this connection.

The connection string is the string sent over to the underlying database provider, which describes the parameters to be used to open a connection on the underlying data source.

`cnc` : | a GdaConnection object.
Returns : | the connection string used when opening the connection.

### gda_connection_get_authentication ()

    const gchar *       gda_connection_get_authentication   (GdaConnection *cnc);

Gets the user name used to open this connection.

`cnc` : | a GdaConnection object.
Returns : | the user name.

### gda_connection_get_events ()

    const GList *       gda_connection_get_events           (GdaConnection *cnc);

Retrieves a list of the last errors occurred during the connection. The returned list is chronologically ordered such as that the most recent event is the GdaConnectionEvent of the first node.

Warning: the `cnc` object may change the list if connection events occur

`cnc` : | a GdaConnection.
Returns : | a GList of GdaConnectionEvent objects (the list should not be modified)

### gda_connection_create_operation ()

    GdaServerOperation * gda_connection_create_operation    (GdaConnection *cnc,
                                                             GdaServerOperationType type,
                                                             GdaSet *options,
                                                             GError **error);

Creates a new GdaServerOperation object which can be modified in order to perform the type type of action. It is a wrapper around the `gda_server_provider_create_operation()` method.

`cnc` : | a GdaConnection object
`type` : | the type of operation requested
`options` : | an optional list of parameters
`error` : | a place to store an error, or `NULL`
Returns : | a new GdaServerOperation object, or `NULL` in the connection's provider does not support the `type` type of operation or if an error occurred

### gda_connection_perform_operation ()

    gboolean            gda_connection_perform_operation    (GdaConnection *cnc,
                                                             GdaServerOperation *op,
                                                             GError **error);

Performs the operation described by `op` (which should have been created using `gda_connection_create_operation()`). It is a wrapper around the `gda_server_provider_perform_operation()` method.

`cnc` : | a GdaConnection object
`op` : | a GdaServerOperation object
`error` : | a place to store an error, or `NULL`
Returns : | TRUE if no error occurred

### enum GdaConnectionFeature

    typedef enum {
    	GDA_CONNECTION_FEATURE_AGGREGATES,
    	GDA_CONNECTION_FEATURE_BLOBS,
    	GDA_CONNECTION_FEATURE_INDEXES,
    	GDA_CONNECTION_FEATURE_INHERITANCE,
    	GDA_CONNECTION_FEATURE_NAMESPACES,
    	GDA_CONNECTION_FEATURE_PROCEDURES,
    	GDA_CONNECTION_FEATURE_SEQUENCES,
    	GDA_CONNECTION_FEATURE_SQL,
    	GDA_CONNECTION_FEATURE_TRANSACTIONS,
    	GDA_CONNECTION_FEATURE_SAVEPOINTS,
    	GDA_CONNECTION_FEATURE_SAVEPOINTS_REMOVE,
    	GDA_CONNECTION_FEATURE_TRIGGERS,
    	GDA_CONNECTION_FEATURE_UPDATABLE_CURSOR,
    	GDA_CONNECTION_FEATURE_USERS,
    	GDA_CONNECTION_FEATURE_VIEWS,
    	GDA_CONNECTION_FEATURE_XA_TRANSACTIONS,

    	GDA_CONNECTION_FEATURE_LAST
    } GdaConnectionFeature;

### gda_connection_supports_feature ()

    gboolean            gda_connection_supports_feature     (GdaConnection *cnc,
                                                             GdaConnectionFeature feature);

Asks the underlying provider for if a specific feature is supported.

`cnc` : | a GdaConnection object.
`feature` : | feature to ask for.
Returns : | `TRUE` if the provider supports it, `FALSE` if not.

### gda_connection_get_meta_store ()

    GdaMetaStore *      gda_connection_get_meta_store       (GdaConnection *cnc);

Get or initializes the GdaMetaStore associated to `cnc`

`cnc` : | a GdaConnection object
Returns : | a GdaMetaStore object

### gda_connection_update_meta_store ()

    gboolean            gda_connection_update_meta_store    (GdaConnection *cnc,
                                                             GdaMetaContext *context,
                                                             GError **error);

Updates `cnc`'s associated GdaMetaStore. If `context` is not `NULL`, then only the parts described by `context` will be updated, and if it is `NULL`, then the complete meta store will be updated. Detailled explanations follow:

In order to keep the meta store's contents in a consistent state, the update process involves updating the contents of all the tables related to one where the contents change. For example the "_columns" table (which lists all the columns of a table) depends on the "_tables" table (which lists all the tables in a schema), so if a row is added, removed or modified in the "_tables", then the "_columns" table's contents needs to be updated as well regarding that row.

If `context` is `NULL`, then the update process will simply overwrite any data that was present in all the meta store's tables with new (up to date) data even if nothing has changed, without having to build the tables' dependency tree. This is the recommended way of proceeding when dealing with a meta store which might be outdated.

On the other hand, if `context` is not `NULL`, then a tree of the dependencies has to be built (depending on `context`) and only some parts of the meta store are updated following that dependencies tree. Specifying a context may be usefull for example in the following situations:

- One knows that a database object has changed (for example a table created), and may use the `context` to request that only the information about that table be updated

- One is only interrested in the list of views, and may request that only the information about views may be updated

When `context` is not `NULL`, and contains specified SQL identifiers (for example the "table_name" of the "_tables" table), then each SQL identifier has to match the convention the GdaMetaStore has adopted regarding case sensitivity, using `gda_connection_quote_sql_identifier()` or `gda_meta_store_sql_identifier_quote()`.

see the meta data section about SQL identifiers for more information, and the documentation about the `gda_sql_identifier_quote()` function which will be most usefull.

Note however that usually more information will be updated than strictly requested by the `context` argument.

For more information, see the Database structure section, and the Update the meta data about a table howto.

`cnc` : | a GdaConnection object.
`context` : | description of which part of `cnc`'s associated GdaMetaStore should be updated, or `NULL`
`error` : | a place to store errors, or `NULL`
Returns : | TRUE if no error occurred

### enum GdaConnectionMetaType

    typedef enum {
    	GDA_CONNECTION_META_NAMESPACES,
    	GDA_CONNECTION_META_TYPES,
    	GDA_CONNECTION_META_TABLES,
    	GDA_CONNECTION_META_VIEWS,
    	GDA_CONNECTION_META_FIELDS
    } GdaConnectionMetaType;

`GDA_CONNECTION_META_NAMESPACES` | lists the namespaces (or schemas for PostgreSQL)
`GDA_CONNECTION_META_TYPES` |
`GDA_CONNECTION_META_TABLES` | lists the tables
`GDA_CONNECTION_META_VIEWS` |
`GDA_CONNECTION_META_FIELDS` |

### gda_connection_get_meta_store_data ()

    GdaDataModel *      gda_connection_get_meta_store_data  (GdaConnection *cnc,
                                                             GdaConnectionMetaType meta_type,
                                                             GError **error,
                                                             gint nb_filters,
                                                             ...);

Retreives data stored in `cnc`'s associated GdaMetaStore object. This method is usefull to easily get some information about the meta-data associated to `cnc`, such as the list of tables, views, and other database objects.

Note: it's up to the caller to make sure the information contained within `cnc`'s associated GdaMetaStore is up to date using `gda_connection_update_meta_store()` (it can become outdated if the database's schema is modified).

For more information about the returned data model's attributes, or about the `meta_type` and ... filter arguments, see this description.

Also, when using filters involving data which are SQL identifiers, make sure each SQL identifier is represented using the GdaMetaStore convention, using `gda_meta_store_sql_identifier_quote()` or `gda_meta_store_sql_identifier_quote()`.

See the meta data section about SQL identifiers for more information, and the documentation about the `gda_sql_identifier_quote()` function which will be most usefull.

`cnc` : | a GdaConnection object.
`meta_type` : | describes which data to get.
`error` : | a place to store errors, or `NULL`
`nb_filters` : | the number of filters in the @... argument
`...` : | a list of (filter name (gchar *), filter value (GValue*)) pairs specifying the filter to apply to the returned data model's contents (there must be `nb_filters` pairs)
Returns : | a GdaDataModel containing the data required. The caller is responsible for freeing the returned model using `g_object_unref()`.

### gda_connection_get_meta_store_data_v ()

    GdaDataModel *      gda_connection_get_meta_store_data_v
                                                            (GdaConnection *cnc,
                                                             GdaConnectionMetaType meta_type,
                                                             GList *filters,
                                                             GError **error);

see gda_connection_get_meta_store_data

`cnc` : | a GdaConnection object.
`meta_type` : | describes which data to get.
`filters` : | a GList of GdaHolders
`error` : | a place to store errors, or `NULL`
Returns : | a GdaDataModel containing the data required. The caller is responsible for freeing the returned model using `g_object_unref()`.

## Property Details

### The `"auth-string"` property

      "auth-string"              gchar*                : Read / Write

Authentication string to use.

Default value: NULL

### The `"cnc-string"` property

      "cnc-string"               gchar*                : Read / Write

Connection string to use.

Default value: NULL

### The `"dsn"` property

      "dsn"                      gchar*                : Read / Write

DSN to use.

Default value: NULL

### The `"meta-store"` property

      "meta-store"               GdaMetaStore*         : Read / Write

GdaMetaStore used by the connection.

### The `"options"` property

      "options"                  GdaConnectionOptions  : Read / Write

Options (connection sharing).

### The `"provider"` property

      "provider"                 GdaServerProvider*    : Read / Write

Provider to use.

### The `"thread-owner"` property

      "thread-owner"             gpointer              : Read / Write

Unique GThread from which the connection will be available.This should only be modified by the database providers' implementation.

## Signal Details

### The `"conn-closed"` signal

    void                user_function                      (GdaConnection *cnc,
                                                            gpointer       user_data)      : Run Last

Gets emitted when the connection to the database has been closed

`cnc` : | the GdaConnection
`user_data` : | user data set when the signal handler was connected.

### The `"conn-opened"` signal

    void                user_function                      (GdaConnection *cnc,
                                                            gpointer       user_data)      : Run First

Gets emitted when the connection has been opened to the database

`cnc` : | the GdaConnection
`user_data` : | user data set when the signal handler was connected.

### The `"conn-to-close"` signal

    void                user_function                      (GdaConnection *cnc,
                                                            gpointer       user_data)      : Run First

Gets emitted when the connection to the database is about to be closed

`cnc` : | the GdaConnection
`user_data` : | user data set when the signal handler was connected.

### The `"dsn-changed"` signal

    void                user_function                      (GdaConnection *cnc,
                                                            gpointer       user_data)      : Run Last

Gets emitted when the DSN used by `cnc` has been changed

`cnc` : | the GdaConnection
`user_data` : | user data set when the signal handler was connected.

### The `"error"` signal

    void                user_function                      (GdaConnection      *cnc,
                                                            GdaConnectionEvent *event,
                                                            gpointer            user_data)      : Run Last

Gets emitted whenever a connection event occurs. Chech the nature of `event` to see if it's an error or a simple notification

`cnc` : | the GdaConnection
`event` : | a GdaConnectionEvent object
`user_data` : | user data set when the signal handler was connected.

### The `"transaction-status-changed"` signal

    void                user_function                      (GdaConnection *cnc,
                                                            gpointer       user_data)      : Run Last

Gets emitted when the transactional status of `cnc` has changed (a transaction has been started, rolled back, a savepoint added,...)

`cnc` : | the GdaConnection
`user_data` : | user data set when the signal handler was connected.